Amsterdam Airport Schiphol cargo tonnage up 3.2% in 2013

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol experienced 3.2% growth in cargo traffic in 2013, with the total of 1,531,089 tonnes coming close to the airport’s all-time record set in 2007.

The final quarter was, as usual, the best of the year, with a total of 410,698 tonnes (up 8% on 2012). It also saw a return of the traditional pre-Christmas peak in traffic.

2013 also witnessed a strengthening in the airport’s Asia business, up 7.1% to 601,442 tonnes, which represented almost 40% share of all cargo traffic. This allowed Asia to retain its traditional top ranking, followed by North America (16.6% share), the Middle East (12.9%), Latin America (11.2%, overtaking Africa for fourth place), Africa (11%) and Europe (9%).

Exports and imports remained in close balance in 2013, with 50.86% and 49.14% shares of the total respectively.

Freighter movements rose 0.5% to 15,623 for the year, with most growth occurring in the final quarter (up 6.1% on 2012) as carriers introduced extra capacity to meet rising demand.

Comments Amsterdam Airport Schiphol’s Senior VP Cargo, Enno Osinga: ”These results show that we have turned the corner in 2013. Although the very high volumes of the most recent months have been driven mainly by electronics, and new products such as the Xbox2 and PlayStation 4, there has also been an underlying increase in general cargo since the middle of 2013 which gives us confidence that we are in a long-term recovery.

“The fact that not all surrounding airports have shown similar healthy growth is an indication that Schiphol has strengthened its position in the market. But we would like like to see volume increases at all European Airports, as a sign of true economic recovery.

“Meanwhile, modal shift cannot be ignored. Greater efficiency, speed and accuracy, achieved through streamlined processes, are the only ways in which we can reassert the industry’s role and assure its future – which is why Schiphol Cargo and its logistics community continue to invest so much effort and resource in improving the customer experience.”